Spa of the week: Balance Spa and Beauty at The Roxburghe, Edinburgh

With another bank holiday over and the weather taking a turn for the autumnal, it’s easy to feel a little deflated this week. If you find yourself missing that holiday feeling and struggling to wait three months for the next one, you could probably use a quick but restorative city break, or a nice, relaxing spa escape. Hold on a second, what about both? For the perfect equilibrium of sightseeing, saunas and shopping, welcome to this week’s spa of the week: Balance Spa and Beauty at The Roxburghe, Edinburgh...

The spa

Located in the heart of Edinburgh city centre, The Crowne Plaza Roxburghe is a two-minute walk from Princes Street (aka shopper’s heaven) and overlooks the stunning Edinburgh Castle. The hotel’s central location (and royal neighbours) makes it an ideal resting place for city breakers looking to fit as many sights and sounds into their time in the city as possible, while its luxurious spa makes it the perfect destination for lazy long-weekenders. With a host of tempting treatments and fabulous facilities on offer, we’re sure you’ll understand why we recommend doing the latter.

Treatments and facilities

Speaking of fabulous facilities, Balance Spa and Beauty is home to a heated pool (12m long, so more for leisure than practising your front crawl), a sauna and steam room, relaxation area and state-of-the-art Technogym fitness suite.

After working up a sweat (in the Technogym, sauna or shopping on Princes Street) guests can relax and reward their efforts in one of the spa’s tranquil treatment rooms, where they will find an array of treats on the menu, including a vast and varied selection from aromatherapy skincare experts Decléor. For the ultimate in relaxation and beautifying, go for the Decléor Aroma Expert Radiance facial (which uses vitamin C to brighten the complexion) or Decléor Aroma Body Silk Glistener (an exfoliation treatment that leaves the skin petal soft).

As well as the utmost in luxury, the spa also offers a range of alternative therapies, including reflexology and Hopi ear candling, as well as an impressive selection of maintenance treatments, including 11 different kinds of waxing and 11 different nail options – that’s right, 11.

To make the most of this spa’s extensive treatment menu and still fit in a spot of sightseeing, it’s worth taking a look at some of the overnight packages available to guests. For optimum relaxation we recommend the Two Night Balance Spa Indulgence Spa Break, which includes a two night stay in a classic double/twin room, a Decléor aromatherapy full body massage, Decléor relaxing aromatic facial, full Scottish breakfast each morning, Champagne afternoon tea, three-course set dinner in the George Street Bar and Grill on arrival night, full use of the spa facilities and complimentary robes and slippers.

If that sounds like a bit too much relaxation for you, the spa also offers a number of different spa days, ranging from a mini pamper day, to a special day for hens and - for the seriously stressed - the ‘Ultimate Relax Spa Day’.

Treat yourself

If you're not jetting off to somewhere exotic in the next few weeks and August seems like too long to wait for another day off, take a look at Balance Spa and Beauty’s venue page and book your next escape now.

I am the Assistant Site Editor and owner of one of the largest nail varnish collections in the UK. I love all things health and beauty especially trying out new products and treatments and telling the world all about them.